A call by Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MP Angus MacNeil for a £350,000 tweed investment fund to be established to help weavers during slack times has been welcomed.
Mr MacNeil said that such a fund would enable weavers to continue weaving at the traditionally quiet back-end of the year.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar appear to support the establishment of a tweed investment fund as it would mean that mills could m
aintain production throughout the whole year and would be able to respond to the demands of the market.
It is believed that the Comhairle see this as a good opportunity to support the Harris Tweed industry.
The Comhairle take on board the situation that confidence among the weaver population is low, although the mills appear confident that the situation in 2009 will be better.
It is also understood that they are aware of the risk that, because of the present situation, weavers will not continue in the industry.
This could mean that weavers would not be able to meet demand should their services be required.
It is understood that they are also concerned, because of the fluctuation in the industry, that young people will not take up weaving.
However, should there be production all year round, it could prove attractive to young folk and would also help retain the present weaver workforce.
The move to have a tweed investment fund established was welcomed by Ness weaver Calum Maclean who stated: "Credit to the MP - he has done his best and hasn't forgotten about us. £350,000 is only 350 tweeds which wouldn't be a lot among 125 weavers, but it would be appreciated. I have been idle for the past month and personally I have never seen things so bad in the industry."
Mr MacNeil said he was writing to Enterprise Minister, Jim Mather MSP to look at bringing together various bodies, HIE, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and the Scottish Government to establish a fund to enable weavers to continue weaving all through the year.
"The most popular patterns could then be bought by the mills at the times of peak in demand; this would help level out the peaks and troughs within the weaving industry and keep weavers weaving," said Mr MacNeil.
"The story of Harris Tweed is a positive story and we are fortunate to have the industry in the Islands.
"One thing is certain, the Harris Tweed brand is so well known and popular that therefore in the Islands, we must work to help and support one of the Jewels of Scotland," he said.
"I know work has already been done on this by the Harris Tweed Authority and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, thus, I am asking the Minister to use his Office to try and get a £350,000 investment fund, not a grant, underway.
"The beauty of such a fund is that it would always keep the value in either cash or tweed assets.
"This would then give weavers a livelihood over the next four months during this restructuring period and ensure that weavers are still present when the industry becomes busy again, as is expected in 2009," added Mr MacNeil.
Weaver Calum Maclean said that Shawbost mill representatives would be attending Premiere Vision, the world's biggest textile trade fair in Paris later this month, so he hoped this would result in work for some of the weavers.
At the moment, however, there is no work and he described the situation as 'desperate', stating that the slump could continue until the beginning of next year.
"If you told Council workers to go home for two or three months as there was no work for them, it would be on the front page of every newspaper in the country.
"There is no benefit system for weavers. If there is no work, they don't get paid," said Mr Maclean.
"At least the MP is trying to do something for us and we appreciate that.
"But things are bleak. There is more uncertainty now than ever before," he added.
